From staff and wire reports | Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:00 am
Wyo loses one rig
HOUSTON - The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States rose by 18 last week to 917, the second consecutive week for an uptick after months of declines.
Of the major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas added eight rigs, Oklahoma and Alaska each added two and New Mexico and North Dakota each added one. California and Louisiana each lost two, Colorado and Wyoming each lost one and Arkansas was unchanged.
Of the rigs running nationwide, 687 were exploring for natural gas and 219 for oil, Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. Eleven were listed as miscellaneous.
A year ago, the rig count stood at 1,913. The number of active rigs has increased by 41 in the past couple of weeks, but the U.S. count is still down 55 percent since the end of August as weak energy demand has hampered oilfield activity.
Oil prices peaked at almost $150 a barrel in July before plunging. On Friday, benchmark crude for August delivery lost $1.14 cents to $69.09 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Senior project opens doors
Beacon Management, in partnership with the Wyoming Community Development Authority, recently opened a new 54-unit senior housing complex located at Elma and K streets in Casper.
The Legacy Senior Residences project offers one bedroom units for $417 per month, while two bedroom units rent for $525, both including utilities.
The project was 75 percent leased within five days of receiving a certificate of occupancy.
A second project, called "Cornerstone," also is planned in the same area. It will be for families earning less than 55 percent of the area median income. Rents are expected to average about $560.
Construction on the Cornerstone project began earlier this month. It is expected to be completed in May 2010.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Legacy Senior Residences project was held Friday.
AAA expects more travelers
DENVER - Auto club AAA says Colorado and surrounding mountain states will be the exception to an anticipated national decline in July Fourth travel this year.
AAA said it expects 2.6 million Americans in the region to travel 50 or more miles from home over the holiday weekend. That's an increase of 1.2 percent from last year.
Nationally, the club expects a decrease of 1.9 percent. It blames the economy, particularly rising unemployment and sagging personal incomes.
AAA says relatively lower unemployment will allow an uptick in travel in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
Visitors group names executive
Darlene Matz has been named director of competitions and group travel at the Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Matz brings more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry and was most recently Travel Management's office manager, a press release indicates.
The Casper Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is the marketing arm of the Natrona County Travel and Tourism Council, a joint powers board, whose mission is to enhance the economic base of Natrona County through tourism.
State awards highway contracts
Contracts totaling nearly $3.3 million for three highway projects were awarded by the Wyoming Transportation Commission at its June meeting in Cheyenne.
Nearly 1.7 miles of U.S. 14/16/20 between Stampede Avenue in Cody and the Wyoming 120 junction south of Cody will receive a pavement overlay under a $1.6 million contract awarded to Mountain Construction of Lovell.
Cheyenne's Knife River submitted the low bid of $1 million for a pavement overlay on 2.5 miles of the I-25 service road south of Kaycee and rehabilitation of the aging bridge over the South Fork of the Powder River.
Turn lanes will be added to U.S. 87 at its intersections with Sheridan County Road 66 and Fleming Drive in Sheridan under a $625,000 contract awarded to Intermountain Construction of Gillette.
State Bar holds conference
The Wyoming State Bar will hold its annual meeting and judicial conference in Evanston, Sept. 15-18. More than 200 attorneys, judges and guests are expected to attend.
Exhibiting opportunities are available throughout the week of the joint meeting. For more information, contact Sharon Wilkinson at (307) 632-9061 or e-mail swilkinson@wyomingbar.org.
Mine safety records recognized
CHEYENNE - The state mine inspector and the Wyoming Mining Association have recognized the Rawhide and Antelope surface mines in Campbell County for their safety records.
The Rawhide Mine is owned by Peabody Energy, and Antelope is owned by Rio Tinto.
The Wyoming Mining Association recognized the mines with the lowest accident rates at its annual convention, which was held recently in Laramie.
The Rawhide Mine was recognized for having the lowest lost-time accident rate among small surface mines in the state, while Antelope was recognized for the best accident rate among large surface mines.
Neither mine recorded an accident in 2008 in which an employee lost work.
The accident rates were compiled by the state Division of Mine Inspections and Safety.
Crook ranchers eligible for loans
Farmers and ranchers in Crook County may qualify for emergency loans based on losses caused by severe storms and flooding, according to a press release.
A major disaster declaration was announced for South Dakota counties. Crook County is considered a contiguous county to the area primarily designed and is therefore eligible as well.
To qualify for production loss loans, applicants must have suffered at least a 30 percent loss of their normal production per acre or normal animal production, according to a press release.
Daniels Fund tabs VP
Bo Peretto has been named vice president of administration and operations at the Daniels Fund.
He oversees building operations and various administrative functions. The fund awards grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Colorado roadless lawsuit closed
DENVER - A federal lawsuit challenging the construction of a natural gas pipeline through roadless forest in western Colorado is closed.
U.S. District Judge Robert E. Blackburn closed the case after Harold Shepherd of the Moab, Utah-based Center for Water Advocacy, the remaining plaintiff in the case, dropped out.
Claims brought by the Wilderness Workshop and other environmental groups were dismissed in August. The groups sought to block construction of the 25.5-mile Bull Mountain pipeline on the White River and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in July upheld a lower court's denial of a preliminary injunction.